Introduction
Numbers are an essential part of any language, and German is no exception. They are used in daily communication, from counting and telling the time to giving dates and organizing events. Understanding both cardinal and ordinal numbers will help you navigate these everyday situations.
Cardinal Numbers
Cardinal numbers are used for counting and indicating quantity. Here is a list of the basic cardinal numbers in German:
| English | German |
|---|---|
| Zero | Null |
| One | Eins |
| Two | Zwei |
| Three | Drei |
| Four | Vier |
| Five | Fünf |
| Six | Sechs |
| Seven | Sieben |
| Eight | Acht |
| Nine | Neun |
| Ten | Zehn |
| Eleven | Elf |
| Twelve | Zwölf |
| Thirteen | Dreizehn |
| Fourteen | Vierzehn |
| Fifteen | Fünfzehn |
| Sixteen | Sechzehn |
| Seventeen | Siebzehn |
| Eighteen | Achtzehn |
| Nineteen | Neunzehn |
| Twenty | Zwanzig |
| Thirty | Dreißig |
| Forty | Vierzig |
| Fifty | Fünfzig |
| Sixty | Sechzig |
| Seventy | Siebzig |
| Eighty | Achtzig |
| Ninety | Neunzig |
| One Hundred | Hundert |
Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers indicate the position or order of things in a sequence. In German, they are often used for dates, rankings, and more.
| English | German |
|---|---|
| First | Erste |
| Second | Zweite |
| Third | Dritte |
| Fourth | Vierte |
| Fifth | Fünfte |
| Sixth | Sechste |
| Seventh | Siebte |
| Eighth | Achte |
| Ninth | Neunte |
| Tenth | Zehnte |
| Eleventh | Elfte |
| Twelfth | Zwölfte |
| Thirteenth | Dreizehnte |
| Fourteenth | Vierzehnte |
| Fifteenth | Fünfzehnte |
| Sixteenth | Sechzehnte |
| Seventeenth | Siebzehnte |
| Eighteenth | Achtzehnte |
| Nineteenth | Neunzehnte |
| Twentieth | Zwanzigste |
| Twenty-First | Einundzwanzigste |
| Thirtieth | Dreißigste |
Usage in Dates
In German, dates are typically written in the order of day-month-year, and ordinal numbers are used for the day.
- English: March 5, 2023
- German: 5. März 2023
Examples
Cardinal Numbers
- English: I have three books.
- German: Ich habe drei Bücher.
Ordinal Numbers
- English: She is in the third grade.
- German: Sie ist in der dritten Klasse.
Dates
- English: Today is the 1st of January.
- German: Heute ist der 1. Januar.
Conclusion
Mastering numbers in German will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in a variety of contexts. Whether you're counting objects, giving a date, or describing the order of events, knowing both cardinal and ordinal numbers is crucial.